She appreciated that he didn’t complain—not once—about the chilly breeze, about the economy, about their brisk walking pace. On the contrary, he celebrated these things. He embraced the simple life and considered simple ways endearing. He loved days like this, an hour before imminent rain—the electricity in the air, and the reaction of all creatures to the threat of wetness.
Julian decided that a new friend's most vital qualities were demonstrated in the first forty minutes, then simply confirmed over the next thirty years.
She wondered, between the sips and the thirsting for personal knowledge, if he were getting the same read from her. A big part of her was optimistic. But another part—the realist—knew that even the simplest hearts braved incredibly complex worlds.
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